Watchdog - Radio Free Europe / Radio Libertyhttp://www.rferl.org/archive/Watchdog/latest/646/646.html "Watchdog" is a blog with a singular mission -- to monitor the latest developments concerning human rights, civil society, and press freedom.http://www.rferl.org/img/rssLogo_RFERL.gifWatchdog - Radio Free Europe / Radio Libertyhttp://www.rferl.org/archive/Watchdog/latest/646/646.html en-USCopyright 2015 - RFE/RL, Inc.60Tue, 31 Mar 2015 20:47:41 +0000Pangea CMS – RFE/RLRussian Electoral Rights Group Leader's Property SeizedRussian police have evicted a regional leader of the independent electoral-rights group Golos (Voice) from her apartment and impounded other property in a tax-evasion case she says is politically motivated.http://www.rferl.org/content/russian-electoral-rights-group-leaders-property-seized/26929852.html http://www.rferl.org/content/russian-electoral-rights-group-leaders-property-seized/26929852.htmlTue, 31 Mar 2015 10:21:49 +0000Russianoreply@rferl.org (RFE/RL's Russian Service)Freedom House Demands Campaign Against Baku Over Jailed JournalistDemocracy advocates at Freedom House, a U.S.-based nongovernmental organization, have called for an international campaign aimed at pressuring Azerbaijan to free jailed investigative journalist Khadija Ismayilova.http://www.rferl.org/content/ismayilova-azerbaijan-jail-rights-freedom-house/26929309.html http://www.rferl.org/content/ismayilova-azerbaijan-jail-rights-freedom-house/26929309.htmlTue, 31 Mar 2015 04:14:37 +0000Azerbaijannoreply@rferl.org (RFE/RL)Jailed Azerbaijani Journalist Ismayilova Allowed To See RelativesKhadija Ismayilova, an Azerbaijani investigative journalist and RFE/RL contributor has been allowed to see her relatives for the first time since her arrest in early December.http://www.rferl.org/content/ismayilova-allowed-to-see-relatives-for-the-first-time/26919713.html http://www.rferl.org/content/ismayilova-allowed-to-see-relatives-for-the-first-time/26919713.htmlWed, 25 Mar 2015 09:11:30 +0000Azerbaijannoreply@rferl.org (RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service)Russian Court Fines Sakharov Center Under 'Foreign Agent' LawA Russian court has fined the Sakharov Center human rights organization for failing to register under a "foreign agent" law.http://www.rferl.org/content/russia-sakharov-center-foreign-agent/26916484.html http://www.rferl.org/content/russia-sakharov-center-foreign-agent/26916484.htmlMon, 23 Mar 2015 19:52:07 +0000Russianoreply@rferl.org (RFE/RL)HRW Calls On EU Leaders To Raise Rights Concerns With Kyrgyz PresidentA human rights group says the leaders of the European Union, France, Germany, and Switzerland should raise “pressing” human rights concerns with Kyrgyz President Almazbek Atambaev, who is due to visit European capitals from March 22 for talks with senior officials.http://www.rferl.org/content/human-rights-kyrgyzstan-atambaev/26914064.html http://www.rferl.org/content/human-rights-kyrgyzstan-atambaev/26914064.htmlSun, 22 Mar 2015 09:09:32 +0000Kyrgyzstannoreply@rferl.org (RFE/RL)EU Criticizes Belarus Over Death SentenceThe European Union has sharply criticized Belarus, the only European country that applies capital punishment, for sentencing a man to death.http://www.rferl.org/content/european-union-lambasts-velarus-over-death-penalty/26911712.html http://www.rferl.org/content/european-union-lambasts-velarus-over-death-penalty/26911712.htmlFri, 20 Mar 2015 13:00:57 +0000Belarusnoreply@rferl.org (RFE/RL)Chechen Man Faces Trial For Feeding Alleged MilitantA man accused of buying food for a militant in Russia's Chechnya region faces trial on charges of acting as an accomplice to armed outlaws.http://www.rferl.org/content/chechen-man-faces-trial-for-feeding-alleged-militant/26909501.html http://www.rferl.org/content/chechen-man-faces-trial-for-feeding-alleged-militant/26909501.htmlThu, 19 Mar 2015 12:22:54 +0000North Caucasusnoreply@rferl.org (RFE/RL's North Caucasus Service)Aliyev Decree Frees Three Azerbaijani Activists, Many Still JailedAzerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has pardoned more than 100 inmates on the eve of the Norouz, the New Year's holiday, including three who are seen by government opponents and rights activists as political prisoners.http://www.rferl.org/content/aliyev-decree-frees-three-azerbaijani-activists-many-still-jailed/26909266.html http://www.rferl.org/content/aliyev-decree-frees-three-azerbaijani-activists-many-still-jailed/26909266.htmlThu, 19 Mar 2015 10:29:38 +0000Azerbaijannoreply@rferl.org (RFE/RL's Azerbaijani Service)Russian Rights Center Fined Under 'Foreign Agent' LawA Moscow court has fined a prominent Russian human rights advocacy group for refusal to register as a "foreign agent" under a law Kremlin critics say is putting a chill on civil society.http://www.rferl.org/content/russian-rights-center-fined-under-foreign-agent-law/26907750.html http://www.rferl.org/content/russian-rights-center-fined-under-foreign-agent-law/26907750.htmlWed, 18 Mar 2015 14:34:44 +0000RussiaThree Kazakh Police Officers Sentenced For TortureThree Kazakh police officers have been convicted and sentenced to prison for torturing a suspect in a rare ruling in the Central Asian state.http://www.rferl.org/content/three-kazakh-police-officers-sentenced-for-torture/26907341.html http://www.rferl.org/content/three-kazakh-police-officers-sentenced-for-torture/26907341.htmlWed, 18 Mar 2015 11:04:31 +0000Kazakhstannoreply@rferl.org (RFE/RL's Kazakh Service)Pakistan Hangs 12 For 'Heinous Crimes'Pakistan has hanged 12 convicts, the largest number of people executed on the same day since an unofficial moratorium on capital punishment was lifted in December 2014.http://www.rferl.org/content/pakistan-capital-punishment-/26904909.html http://www.rferl.org/content/pakistan-capital-punishment-/26904909.htmlTue, 17 Mar 2015 05:34:12 +0000Picksnoreply@rferl.org (RFE/RL)Russian Rights Official Not Allowed To See Nemtsov Killing SuspectsThe head of the Russian presidential human rights council says he has not been allowed to visit detained suspects in the killing of opposition politician Boris Nemtsov.http://www.rferl.org/content/fedotov-not-allowed-to-see-nemtsov-killing-suspects/26903783.html http://www.rferl.org/content/fedotov-not-allowed-to-see-nemtsov-killing-suspects/26903783.htmlMon, 16 Mar 2015 14:24:10 +0000Russianoreply@rferl.org (RFE/RL)UN Envoy Says Human Rights Deteriorated In IranThe UN rights investigator on Iran has hailed "some limited improvements" in the country since the 2013 election of President Hassan Rohani but warned "the overall situation has worsened."http://www.rferl.org/content/un-envoy-says-human-rights-deteriorated/26903761.html http://www.rferl.org/content/un-envoy-says-human-rights-deteriorated/26903761.htmlMon, 16 Mar 2015 14:12:58 +0000IranRussian Bill Would Bar Foreigners From ProtestsA Russian ruling-party lawmaker has drafted a bill that would prohibit foreigners from participating in public protests and other demonstrations.http://www.rferl.org/content/russian-bill-would-bar-foreigners-from-protests/26899419.html http://www.rferl.org/content/russian-bill-would-bar-foreigners-from-protests/26899419.htmlFri, 13 Mar 2015 13:29:13 +0000RussiaTajik Activists Get Long Jail Terms For Ties To Opposition LeaderTwo Tajik activists have each been sentenced to 16 1/2 years in prison for being members of a banned political opposition movement.http://www.rferl.org/content/tajik-acrtivists-sentenced-for-association-with-quvatov/26899417.html http://www.rferl.org/content/tajik-acrtivists-sentenced-for-association-with-quvatov/26899417.htmlFri, 13 Mar 2015 13:27:49 +0000Tajikistannoreply@rferl.org (RFE/RL's Tajik Service)Journalists Under Pressure In BelarusA Belarusian journalist working for the Poland-based Belsat television channel is being tried on suspicion of working without accreditation.http://www.rferl.org/content/journalists-in-belarus-under-pressure/26896533.html http://www.rferl.org/content/journalists-in-belarus-under-pressure/26896533.htmlThu, 12 Mar 2015 11:16:29 +0000Belarusnoreply@rferl.org (RFE/RL's Belarus Service)Reporters Without Borders Unblocks Banned News WebsitesMedia advocacy watchdog Reporters Without Borders (RSF) says it is unblocking access to nine news websites in an effort to combat online censorship by governments that violate human rights.http://www.rferl.org/content/media-freedom-reporters-without-borders/26896537.html http://www.rferl.org/content/media-freedom-reporters-without-borders/26896537.htmlThu, 12 Mar 2015 11:08:12 +0000Newsnoreply@rferl.org (RFE/RL)Uzbek Activist Said Forced Into Mental HospitalColleagues say Uzbek human rights activist Aliqul Sarimsoqov has been forcibly placed in a psychiatric clinic.http://www.rferl.org/content/uzbek-activist-forced-to-psychiatric-clinic/26896482.html http://www.rferl.org/content/uzbek-activist-forced-to-psychiatric-clinic/26896482.htmlThu, 12 Mar 2015 10:53:56 +0000Uzbekistannoreply@rferl.org (RFE/RL's Uzbek Service)Spain Will Not Extradite Kazakh Opposition FigureSpanish authorities have decided not to extradite Kazakh opposition figure Muratbek Ketebaev to his home country.http://www.rferl.org/content/spain-will-not-extradite-kazakh-opposition-figure/26896476.html http://www.rferl.org/content/spain-will-not-extradite-kazakh-opposition-figure/26896476.htmlThu, 12 Mar 2015 10:51:58 +0000Kazakhstannoreply@rferl.org (RFE/RL's Kazakh Service)Activist Barred From Visiting Nemtsov Slaying Suspects After Torture ClaimA Russian human rights activist has been questioned by investigators after he said there were signs a suspect in opposition politician Boris Nemtsov's killing was tortured.http://www.rferl.org/content/babushkin-barred-from-visiting-dadayev/26896264.html http://www.rferl.org/content/babushkin-barred-from-visiting-dadayev/26896264.htmlThu, 12 Mar 2015 08:54:37 +0000Russianoreply@rferl.org (RFE/RL's Russian Service)